Platoon-Personal Narrative

I’m a 24 year old sergeant in the United States Army, and I have been in this division for just under a year now. My division is the 501st infantry company, filled with some of the allied forces’ youngest, but most skilled, soldiers. My C.O., Captain Paul Metcalfe, leads the routine runs that every division is expected to complete. He was one of 17 British-born men in our platoon. The 501st was a small group, consisting of roughly 100 men, with five 20-man platoons.

Yeah, shocked me too, I 'm not given to squishing in the masculine presence. Then again.... The service treated me well, honed lightning reflexes, schooled weaponry and marksmanship, plus tools from knife to computer. I took every advantage. I had expected with my spiritual bent, Boot Camp would pass easily.

Late 2005 I was assigned to 2-35 Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI. I re-enlisted into the Army after almost a three year break in service. On my previous enlistment, I served in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment from the 82nd Airborne Division. All the new soldiers to include myself were standing in formation waiting on the Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM) to speak to us. I was the only Private First Class with a Combat Infantryman Badge, an Expert Infantryman Badge, and a combat deployment to Afghanistan. The CSM began by welcoming us to the unit and asking who wanted to go to the Scout Platoon. Several of us in the formation raised our hands. The CSM looked at my right shoulder and saw my

Drill Sergeant Ross told us that, we won’t get bullets until we proved that we could be trusted. This meant to stay focus and not do stupid shit with our guns, like chasing each other around the camp. After getting our weapons, we lined up and started to march through the fields to continue our physical training. Jesse was behind me, and as we marched he began to tell me about the AM-15. He told me that “this gun could easily shoot 240 bullets within 50 seconds with a round drum on top” whatever that meant. With a smirk on my face I told him I didn’t think they would start us off with drums on our guns. The gun was about seven pounds and at first, but after fifty minutes or so of marching, it felt like forty pounds of iron. After what felt

After a three-hour bus ride, surrounded by strangers, I arrived at Camp Pendleton. As I stepped off the bus immediately trapped by three drill instructors screaming in my face, I knew I had made a grave mistake. My experiences at Camp Pendleton’s Devil Pups were some of the most challenging, yet rewarding life skills I have encountered. Upon arrival, I felt as though I didn’t belong, lacking the discipline, purpose, and physical strength that many of my peers had. However, Devil Pups taught me the value of perseverance and, as a result, has contributed to my transformation into the person I am today.

It didn’t happen overnight (only through long nights and days), but there became a time when we didn’t focus on our social identity of one another, but we was one section in a group. One event that has always stuck out to me was the days we had to spend in the field (camping team building), you had to sleep in this small tent with your battle buddy. I recall my fears of snakes and although there were times when he would mess with me regarding my phobia, having him to help me learn things about nature was amazing. This occurred towards the end of our time and when we returned, our outlook on people was changed, I cannot truly attest for everyone in the training, but it really helps shape my views of people from all over the

Coming from BCT to my unit was a big change. You go from standard military bearing to a laid back informal style. I arrive to my unit in July of 2008, from that point until January 2010 was spent training for a deployment. Now there is nothing that can prepare you for a deployment. You can go through all the briefings and all the trainings you want but nothing will prepare you for it. The day came to board the bus set out for a foreign country. I little about me first I am a very keep to myself person. I show zero emotion, as when I was a child I was poked fun at for showing any type of emotion. Once I boarded that bus I broke down and started to cry. I more I thought about it the more uneasy I became. I had to hold it together for

It didn’t happen overnight (only through long nights and days), but there became a time when we didn’t focus on our social identity of one another, but we was one section in a group. One event that always stick out to me was the days we had to spend in the field (camping team building), you had to sleep in this small tent with your battle buddy. I recall my fears of snakes and although there were times when he would mess with me regarding my phobia, having him to help me learn things about nature was amazing. This occurred towards the end of our time and when we returned, our outlook on people was changed, I cannot truly attest for everyone in the training, but it really help shape my views of people from all over the

I remember the click of a rifle cartridge being loaded into an AK-47 outside of Chu Lai.

The 4th Armored Brigade Combat Team Without knowledgeable and qualified leaders at every level of civilian or military organization people will work in an unhealthy environment and their output and performance will suffer. Management or leadership lacking in leadership qualities will effect organizational culture and climate in a negative way, to the point that it will make the unit organization incapable of accomplishing the assigned mission. After a series of tragic events that occurred within the 4th ABCT during their last deployment in Afghanistan, I have no doubt in my mind that commanding them is going to be challenging. During the last few weeks, I had the opportunity to examine the historical unit records, CALL and CAL assessments, and conversations and observations with leaders throughout the Brigade and Division, which gave me some helpful information. This information has helped me in preparing the plan on how to meet with the upcoming challenge.

The Fourth Battalion of the 27th Infantry As my father and I sat at the kitchen table, I assumed my dad, Scott Garland, would have somewhat serious responses for being in the Army for 6 years. As he thought about the military all of his life changing memories flooded back to him. He had been stationed in many places and remembered each and every one of them.

I was still prone to making mistakes which I will learn from quickly. When the patrol leader went around and asked all of us if we wanted to go on the campout, I asked myself “Do I really want to go”? I still had that horrible memory of being cold all night. My answer would always be “ I don't know yet.” or “Put me down as a maybe.”

Early in the morning a reinforced North Vietnamese company attacked Company B, which was manning a defensive perimeter in Vietnam. The surprise onslaught wounded 5 members of a 6-man squad caught in the direct path of the enemy 's thrust. S/Sgt. Stewart became a lone defender of vital terrain--virtually 1

One of the defining moments of BMT was being platoon IC, which helped to boost my level of confidence and be more outspoken than before. It also helped me to understand how essential communication and passing down of messages are, in a platoon. The Basic Trainfire Package was another defining moment of BMT as it was quite interesting to be given the opportunity to fire live rounds for the 2nd time with the 1st when I was a NCC Cadet. Being able to shoot down all the figure 15 targets to me was an achievement and yet again, we had a lot time to talk and